KIRKLAND, WA – A reckless hash oil operation turned explosive on New Year’s Day in 2014, and now two men are paying the price. ROBBY WAYNE MEISER, 46, and BRUCE W. MARK, 62, both formerly of Kirkland, Washington, received federal prison sentences today, announced Acting United States Attorney Annette L. Hayes. The blast rocked the Inglenook Apartments, leaving a trail of destruction and narrowly avoiding more serious injuries.
MEISER was slapped with a 30-month prison term followed by three years of supervised release, while MARK will spend 18 months behind bars, also with three years of supervision. U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour didn’t stop there – the pair were ordered to cough up over $97,000 in restitution to cover the damage to the apartment building. This wasn’t just a mess; it was a financial burden placed on innocent residents.
“Hash oil manufacturing, and resulting explosions, is a growing and serious problem in Western Washington and elsewhere in the country,” Hayes stated bluntly. “As more states decriminalize marijuana, people such as these defendants are creating danger as they seek to manufacture a stronger product. It is important to send a public message that those who go too far and put lives at risk will be prosecuted and punished.” The message is clear: profit isn’t worth endangering others.
The January 1, 2014 explosion was no small affair. Kirkland Fire Department units arrived to find the apartment gutted. Butane used in the hash oil process detonated, blowing out windows and sending debris flying over 25 feet. The north wall of the apartment was pushed outward 6-8 inches, disconnecting from the roof. Inside, gaping holes appeared between the ceiling and walls, and one interior wall shifted nearly a foot. The sliding glass doors were obliterated. The fire department rightfully condemned parts of the building due to severe structural damage. Thirteen empty butane cans and a case of full cans, along with a marijuana grow, were discovered at the scene.
The bust didn’t end there. When investigators caught up with the pair in July 2014, they found a second marijuana grow at a Seattle residence. The men eventually pleaded guilty in November 2014 to Endangering Human Life While Manufacturing Controlled Substances. This wasn’t a first-time offense, and the evidence pointed to a pattern of reckless behavior. The feds are actively pursuing other similar cases, including one in Bellevue where an apartment resident died from complications after attempting to escape a hash oil fire.
This case was a multi-agency effort, with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), U.S. Marshals, and local police departments from Bellevue, Seattle, and Kirkland all contributing. Assistant United States Attorneys Todd Greenberg and Vince Lombardi are prosecuting the case. For press inquiries, contact Public Affairs Officer Emily Langlie at (206) 553-4110 or Emily.Langlie@usdoj.gov. This should serve as a warning: cooking up illegal drugs comes with serious consequences.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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